System, Method and Computer Program Product for Stacking Seismic Noise Data to Analyze Seismic Events

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a method for determining seismic event data from indications of seismic noise, the method including receiving seismic trace data from a plurality of locations, and providing a virtual trace value (E Rvirtual ) as seismic event data for a virtual trace location from the seismic trace data. A system and computer program product for determining seismic event data is also disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/935,835, filed Nov. 6, 2007, and claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/864,474, filed Nov. 6, 2006, theentire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The teachings herein relate to seismic tools used in subterraneanexploration, an in particular, to techniques for minimizing noise andproviding for detection of microseismic events.

2. Background of the Related Art

Subterranean formations may be monitored using one or more seismicreceivers. The receivers may be geophones placed at the surface orsubmerged in wells or on the ocean floor. Also, the receivers may behydrophones placed in those same locations, but sensitive to onlycertain types of waves. The receivers placed in wells may be shallow(usually above the formation of interest) or deep (at or below theformation of interest). Seismic receivers may be sensitive to seismicwaves along a certain axis or those traveling on any axis. Likewise, thereceivers may be sensitive to only certain types of seismic waves, or toseveral types. Those sensitive to certain axes of travel, calleddirectional receivers, may be coupled with other directional receivers,for example, in a set of three orthogonal receivers which collectinformation about the waves in three dimensions. This three-dimensionalinformation may be rotated mathematically through the use oftrigonometric functions in order to derive information as to wave travelin the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis relative to gravity. Alternatively,mathematical rotation may provide translation of the data relative to awellbore, a cardinal direction, or any other reference point.

Microseismic monitoring concerns passively monitoring a formation forseismic events which are very small. Such events may include the seismiceffects generated in a formation by fracturing, depletion, flooding,treatment, fault movement, collapse, water breakthrough, compaction orother similar subterranean interventions or effects. One of the mainproblems with microseismic monitoring, as with other forms of seismicmonitoring, is that of noise. With microseismic events, however, theproblem is emphasized because the signal strength is generally verysmall. This means, in turn, that a small amount of noise which would notcause any significant effect as to a regular, active seismic surveycauses a significant degradation of the signal to noise ratio in themicroseismic survey.

Microseismic surveys include tasks such as receiving data from areceiver, locating data which exceeds some threshold, and analyzingthose over-threshold data in order to determine information aboutcertain events. Data which does not meet the threshold may be considerednoise data, and may be discarded or simply not recorded.

Microseismic data may be analyzed as a set, with several receiversproviding data for a joint analysis. Data is collected from a receiverand related to the other data collected from other receivers in order toderive additional information about the formation. Information fromthree receivers, for example, may be triangulated in order to estimatethe location of a seismic event.

What are needed are a method and a system to make use of seismic data,such as microseismic data previously thought to contain only noise data,in order to derive information about events.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed is a method for determining seismic event data fromindications of seismic noise, the method including receiving seismictrace data from a plurality of locations, and providing a virtual tracevalue (E_(Rvirtual)) as seismic event data for a virtual trace locationfrom the seismic trace data.

Also disclosed is a system for determining seismic event data fromindications of seismic noise, the system including a plurality ofseismic receivers for providing seismic trace data, at least two of theplurality of seismic receivers arranged to provide for a virtual tracelocation, and at least one processor adapted for receiving the seismictrace data from the at least two seismic receivers as input informationand for performing a method comprising providing a virtual trace value(E_(Rvirtual)) as seismic event data for the virtual trace location.

Further disclosed is a computer program product including machinereadable instructions stored on machine readable media. The instructionsare for determining seismic event data by implementing a methodincluding receiving seismic trace data from a plurality of locations,and providing a virtual trace value (E_(Rvirtual)) as seismic event datafor a virtual trace location from the seismic trace data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion ofthe specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, andadvantages of the invention are apparent from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for seismic monitoring.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a processing unit for processingdata indicative of seismic activity.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary aspects of a method formonitoring seismic events.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Subterranean formations are of interest for a variety of reasons. Suchformations may be used for the production of hydrocarbons, the storageof hydrocarbons or other substances, mining operations or a variety ofother uses. One method used to obtain information regarding subterraneanformations is to use acoustic or seismic waves to interrogate theformation. Seismic waves may be generated into the formation and theresulting reflected waves received and analyzed in order to provideinformation about the geology of the formation. Such interrogations arereferred to as active seismic surveys.

Microseismic monitoring concerns passively monitoring a formation forseismic events which are very small. In passive monitoring, theformation is not interrogated, per se, but seismic receivers are placedto receive directly any seismic waves generated by events occurringwithin the formation. Such events may include the seismic effectsgenerated in a formation by fracturing, depletion, flooding, treatment,fault movement, collapse, water breakthrough, compaction or othersimilar subterranean interventions or effects. This additionalinformation about these events may be very useful in determining certaininterventions in order to enhance the use of the formation or provideadditional safety measures in certain situations. For example, it iscommon in the hydrocarbon production industry to fracture or “frac” aformation. During this operation, fluid and propant is pumped down awell at high pressure in order to generate additional fracturing withina zone of the well. The propant is pumped into these fractures andmaintains them after the pressure is removed. Monitoring the seismicwaves generated during and immediately after a frac operation canprovide critical information about the operation, such as the directionand extent of the fractures being generated.

In yet another exemplary application, microseismic monitoring may beused to provide long-term monitoring for subterranean storage facilitiesand formations from which hydrocarbons or water is being produced. Undercertain conditions, the integrity of these formations may becomecompromised, causing collapse. Such collapses may pose a safety concernfor those on the surface, as entire sections of ground may fall into thecollapse. However, often certain characteristic small seismic waves mayprecede such failures, permitting remedial measures to delay thecollapse and ultimately warn of the impending collapse to allow forisolation of any dangerous areas from personnel.

Referring to FIG. 1, there are shown aspects of an exemplary embodimentof a system for seismic monitoring 100. In one embodiment, one or moresubterranean formations are monitored using one or more seismicreceivers 101-108. Each receiver 101-108 receives seismic waves 110generated by seismic activity and generates seismic trace datarepresenting the waves 110 and indicative of the seismic activity. Inthis embodiment, seismic receivers are passive seismic receivers. Eachreceiver 101-108 may be a geophone (as shown in FIG. 1) and/or ahydrophone submerged in wells or on the ocean floor. Each receiver101-108 may be an analog or digital receiver. Other types of seismicreceivers known now or in the future may also be used. As shown in FIG.1, the receivers 101-108 may be placed in a location on a surface 115 ofthe earth 120 surrounding the formations, and may also be disposed in alocation within one or more wellbores 125 that have been drilled intothe earth 120 and may extend into and/or through the formations. In thepresent embodiment, receivers 101, 102, 103 and 104 are placed on thesurface 115, and receivers 105, 106, 107 and 108 are submerged in thewellbores 125. The number and position of the receivers 101-108 aremerely exemplary. Any number or configuration of receivers may be used,at various desired depths.

The receivers 101-108 may be placed in shallow wells (usually above theformation of interest), deep wells (for example, at or below theformation of interest) or at the surface 115. The receivers 101-108 maybe sensitive to seismic waves 110 along a certain axis or thosetraveling on any axis. Likewise, the receivers 101-108 may be sensitiveto only certain types of seismic waves, or several types. Thosereceivers 101-108 sensitive to certain axes of travel, calleddirectional receivers 101-108, may be coupled with other directionalreceivers 101-108. For example, multiple directional receivers 101-108may be coupled together in a set of three orthogonal receivers whichcollect information about the waves 110 in three dimensions. Thisthree-dimensional information may be rotated mathematically through theuse of trigonometric functions in order to derive information as to wavetravel in the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis relative to gravity.Alternatively, mathematical rotation may provide translation of the datarelative to the wellbore 125, a cardinal direction, or any otherreference point.

In one embodiment, the receivers 101-108 may be represented as one ormore pluralities of receivers. For example, the receivers 101, 102, 103and 104 may represent a first plurality 130, and the receivers 105, 106,107 and 108 may represent a second plurality 140. In one embodiment, thereceivers 101-104 of the first plurality 130 are arranged to provide fora first virtual trace location 135, and the receivers 105-108 of thesecond plurality 140 are arranged to provide for a second virtual tracelocation 145.

Any number of receivers 101-108 may be provided. In one embodiment, arelatively dense array of receivers is provided, which may be positionedrelative to geologic areas thought to originate seismic events or otherseismic activity sources of interest.

Referring to FIG. 2, each receiver 101-108 may be coupled to aprocessing unit 200 such as a computer (or data from receivers 101-108may be provided to a computer) for analysis. The processing unit 200 mayinclude, without limitation, at least one power supply 205, aninput/output bus 210, a processor 215, a memory device or system 220, aclock 225 or other time measurement device, and other components (notshown) such as an input device and an output device. The power supply205 may be incorporated in a housing along with other components of theprocessing unit 200, or may be connected remotely such as by a wiredconnection. Other components may be included as deemed suitable.

Generally, the processing unit 200 receives trace data from one or moreof the receivers 101-108 and processes the trace data, such as by themethods described herein. Each receiver 101-108 may be coupled incommunication with the processing unit 200 by a direct connection, suchas a wired connection. In one embodiment, one or more components of theprocessing unit 200 may be incorporated with one or more of thereceivers 101-108 in a common housing, and/or may be positioned with ornear one or more of the receivers 101-108. In another embodiment, eachreceiver 101-108 may be coupled in communication with the processingunit 200 via a wireless connection. The wireless connection may beprovided for by an antenna (and other suited wireless equipment) forgeneration of a wireless communications signal. The illustrations ofFIGS. 1 and 2 are non-limiting and merely exemplary of one embodiment ofthe network 100.

The seismic waves of interest for microseismic monitoring are generallyof very small amplitude. Accordingly, a small amount of noise may causea significant degradation of the signal to noise ratio in a microseismicsurvey. It has been discovered, however, that analyzing several sets ofwaves 110 which have a very poor signal to noise ratio yields usefulinformation and may lead to the detection of events which werepreviously undetectable as being below threshold values for detection.

There is provided a system and method for analyzing seismic data, suchas microseismic data, that incorporates seismic trace data from aplurality of seismic receivers 101-108, and detects microseismic events.The microseismic trace data may be analyzed as a set, with several ofthe receivers 101-108 providing trace data for a joint analysis. Tracedata is collected from a plurality of the receivers 101-108 and computedto form a single virtual point. The virtual point may then be examinedin order to determine if there has been a microseismic event. Theresults from several virtual points may be triangulated in order todetermine the location of the event. Although the systems and methodsdescribed herein are described in conjunction with microseismicmonitoring, the systems and methods may also be used for activemonitoring and/or other types of passive monitoring.

The virtual points may be computed to focus on seismic events and otherseismic activities, such as underground permanent or pseudo-permanentsources of noise and/or microseismic events. For example, calculation ofthe virtual points may be performed to identify and locate undergroundactive zones, such as a steam chamber in heavy oil sand.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method 300 for monitoring seismic events, which maybe utilized in, but is not limited to, microseismic passive monitoring.The method 300 includes one or more stages 305, 310, 315, 320 and 325.The method 300 is described herein in conjunction with the plurality 130of receivers 101-104, although the method may be performed inconjunction with any number and configuration of receivers.

In the first stage 305, a stream of trace data from each of a pluralityof the receivers 101-104 is received, such as by processor 215. Tracedata may include data regarding seismic events and data that isconsidered noise. Each stream of trace data includes a plurality of datapoints generated by a respective receiver 101-104 during a selectedduration of time or time window. The plurality of data points from asingle receiver 101-104 over the selected duration of time is referredto as a “trace”. These data points may also be referred to as a “tracedata stream”.

In one embodiment, the plurality of receivers used to generate a virtualpoint includes each of the receivers 101-104, and thus includes four (4)receivers. However, the plurality of receivers may be two receivers,three receivers, or any number and any combination of the receivers101-108. Furthermore, when multiple virtual points are calculated frommultiple pluralities of receivers 101-108, the individual receivers ineach plurality may be selected from any number of receivers 101-108, andmay include receivers that are selected for other pluralities, i.e.,multiple pluralities may share common receivers.

In one embodiment, the trace data in each trace may be processed usingmethods that include statistical analysis, data fitting, and datamodeling. Examples of statistical analysis include calculation of asummation, an average, a variance, a standard deviation, t-distribution,a confidence interval, and others. Examples of data fitting includevarious regression methods, such as linear regression, least squares,segmented regression, hierarchal linear modeling, and others. Examplesof data modeling include direct seismic modeling, indirect seismicmodeling, and others.

The naming and numbering convention described herein is provided toillustrate the method 300 described herein. The naming and numberconvention provided is arbitrarily chosen, and is provided forexplanation only.

“Trace_(m)(t)” corresponds to each of a plurality of data points in aspecific trace received from a receiver 101-104 at a particularlocation. “Rn” corresponds to a specific receiver number in theplurality of receivers, at a given location at the surface or downholein a wellbore, such as wellbore 125. For example, receivers 101, 102,103 and 104 may correspond to R1, R2, R3 and R4, respectively.“E_(Rn)(t)” corresponds to a resultant trace calculated from at leastone trace_(m)(t) received from a receiver having a correspondingreceiver number. “E_(Rvirtual)(t)” corresponds to a virtual tracecalculated from the plurality of receivers 101-104, and “E_(Rvirtual)”corresponds to a virtual trace value calculated based on the virtualtrace (E_(Rvirtual)(t)).

In the first stage 305, traces (trace_(m)(t)) are received from each ofthe receivers 101-104. The traces (trace_(m)(t)) may be processed toproduce a single trace (E_(Rn)(t)) for the location of each receiver101-104.

The resultant trace (E_(Rn)(t))may be computed from a single trace, inthe event that a receiver location includes a single receiver (orsensor). In the event that a receiver location includes multiplereceivers or sensors, the traces (trace_(m)(t)) from each receiver orsensor are summed together to form the single resultant trace(E_(Rn)(t)). In one embodiment, for a receiver location that generatesonly one trace, the trace (trace_(m)(t)) may be equivalent to theresultant trace (E_(Rn)(t)).

In one embodiment, the resultant trace (trace_(Rn)(t)) may be calculatedusing the following equation:

E _(Rn)(t)=sqrt[trace₁(t)²+ . . . trace_(m)(t)²].

In this embodiment, the resultant trace (E_(Rn)(t)) for each receiver101-104 is calculated by calculating a square root of the sum of thesquare of each trace_(m)(t) received for a respective receiver in aselected time window.

In one example, the resultant trace (E_(Rn)(t))is calculated from thetraces trace_(m)(t) generated by a multi-dimensional receiver, such as areceiver that generates traces in three orthogonal dimensions x, y andz. These traces may be represented as trace_(x)(t), trace_(y)(t) andtrace_(z)(t). Calculation of the resultant trace (E_(Rn)(t)) may berepresented by the equation:

E _(Rn)(t)=sqrt[trace_(x)(t)²+trace_(y)(t)²+trace_(z)(t)²].

In this equation, trace_(x) is the trace of a first horizontal axis,trace_(y)(t) is the trace of a second horizontal axis, and trace_(z)(t)is the trace of a vertical axis.

In the second stage 310, the resultant traces (E_(Rn)(t)) collectedand/or calculated from each receiver (Rn) may be used to compute avirtual trace (E_(Rvirtual)(t)). Using multiple trace values, e.g.,E_(R1)(t), E_(R2)(t), E_(R3)(t) . . . E_(Rn)(t), the virtual trace(E_(Rvirtual)(t)) may be determined.

In one embodiment, the traces (E_(Rn)(t)) from the plurality (e.g., aplurality 130) of receivers 101-104 are summed to determine the virtualtrace (E_(Rvirtual)(t)).

The virtual trace value (E_(Rvirtual)(t)) may be calculated from anynumber of trace values (E_(Rn)(t)). Such a calculation may berepresented by the equation:

E _(Rvirtual)(t)=[E _(R1)(t)+ . . . E _(Rn)(t)]

This equation represents a sum of the traces (E_(Rn)(t)) from aplurality of receivers (Rn). The plurality includes a first trace from afirst receiver, represented by “E_(R1)(t)”, and additional trace(s) fromany number of additional receivers, represented by “E_(Rn)(t)”. Thenumber of additional traces (E_(Rn)(t)) is potentially infinite andlimited only by the ability to process and present reliable data.

An example of a calculation of the virtual trace (E_(Rvirtual)(t)) isprovided. In this example, the virtual trace (E_(Rvirtual)(t)) isrepresented by the equation:

E _(Rvirtual)(t)=[E _(R1)(t)+E _(R2)(t)+E _(R3)(t)+E _(R4)(t)]

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, for example, the trace value computedfor each of the receivers 101, 102, 103 and 104 is represented byE_(R1)(t), E_(R2)(t), E_(R3)(t), and E_(R4)(t), respectively.

In the third stage 315, a virtual trace value (E_(Rvirtual)) may becalculated based on the virtual trace (E_(Rvirtual)(t)). The virtualtrace value (E_(Rvirtual)) may be calculated, for example, bynormalizing the values of the traces (E_(Rn)(t)) to achieve a scalevalue, such as a scale value having a maximum of one (1). Normalizationmay be achieved by a method including, for example, division of thetraces (E_(Rn)(t)) by the standard deviation.

In one embodiment, the virtual trace value (E_(Rvirtual)) may berepresented by the equation:

(E _(Rvirtual))=(1/N)*∫E _(Rvirtual)(t)dt/[∫E _(R1)(t)dt+∫E_(R2)(t)dt+∫E _(R3)(t)dt+∫E _(R4)(t)dt . . . +∫E _(Rn)(t)dt]

In this equation, N represents the number of receivers or receiverlocations (e.g., N=4). The boundary of the integrals in this equationcorrespond to the boundaries of a selected time window. The boundariesare referred to in the following description as T1 and T2.

The resulting virtual trace value (E_(Rvirtual)) may have a valuebetween zero (0) and one (1). Higher values, including values that areclose to and approach one (1) may indicate seismically active zones(e.g., zones that emit a lot of noise) and/or seismic events. Virtualtrace values (E_(Rvirtual)) approaching one (1) may also indicate thatthe noise or seismic activity is consistent on the traces of each of thereal receivers used to calculate the virtual point.

In one embodiment, the boundary of T1 and T2 is equal to the selectedtime window for each trace. In another embodiment, T1 and T2 are thesame for each integral of the equation.

The virtual trace value (E_(Rvirtual)) may be calculated for any valueof T1 and T2 and may thus show different time scales of the seismicphenomenon observed. Moreover, virtual trace values (E_(Rvirtual)) maybe calculated for one or more particular periods and may show a timevariation for an active zone, for example by an extension of the steamchamber in a particular direction and/or a variation of pressure withinthe steam chamber.

In the fourth stage 320, a virtual point may be created having alocation, and a virtual trace value (E_(Rvirtual)) provided by thevirtual trace (E_(Rvirtual)(t)).

In one embodiment, the resulting virtual trace value is then plotted asa virtual point 135 in the center of the four real receiver points101-104. This analysis is referred to as CBSF, for “Coherence BruitSismique de Fond”, translated as “Background Seismic Noise Consistency”.The virtual point 135 has a virtual trace value (E_(Rvirtual))determined as described above, and has a virtual trace location based onthe locations of each of the receivers 101-104. The virtual point andanalysis described herein is merely exemplary. The numbers andconfigurations of the receivers used in this analysis are not limited.

Multiple virtual traces values may be calculated for various sets ofreceivers. For example, a virtual point 145 may also be calculated basedon the trace values from the plurality 140 of the receivers 105-108.Additional virtual points may also be calculated from any combination ofreceivers 101-108. That is, each “plurality” is receivers may beselected from any combination of the receivers 101-108. Also, asindicated above, multiple pluralities may share common receivers. In oneembodiment, multiple virtual points may be plotted in a graph or othervisual display at representative locations. An image may be createdshowing the different virtual trace values at each virtual point, sothat locations of seismic events may be detected.

In the fifth stage 325, seismic events may then be detected among thevirtual points by comparing one or more virtual trace values (E_(Rn)) toa threshold value. In one embodiment, values in excess of the thresholdfrom several proximate virtual points may indicate an event, whoselocation may be triangulated from the locations of the virtual points.In another embodiment, the threshold value may also be compared to thetrace values (E_(Rn)).

In one embodiment, the plurality of receivers form a geometric shape,which may be represented by a shape formed by the locations of eachreceiver in the plurality. The shape may be one-dimensional, such as aline between two locations, two-dimensional or three dimensional. Thevirtual point may be located between or amongst the plurality ofreceivers. In one embodiment, the virtual point is located at a centerof the receivers. The “center” may include a geometric center of theshape, also referred to as a “geometric centroid”, or a center ofgravity of the shape. For example, the center of gravity for the shapemay be calculated for an object forming the shape, under the assumptionthat the object has uniform density throughout. In another example, thecenter of gravity for the shape may be calculated based on a variabledensity or velocity model within the object forming the shape.

For example, receivers 101-104, which are described in an exemplaryembodiment of the method described above, four traces representing datalocations from the four receivers 101-104 forming a square are used, andthe resulting virtual point is located in the center, i.e., centroid, ofthe square formed by the locations of the receivers 101-104. Thisembodiment may assume a constant velocity model within the area of thefour receivers.

Any number of receivers may be used to compose the virtual trace value(E_(Rvirtual)) based on the methods described herein. Furthermore,because the virtual trace value (E_(Rvirtual)) may be normalized,multiple trace values corresponding to different numbers of receiversmay be calculated and compared.

In one embodiment, if a shape formed by the locations of the receiversform an equilateral geometric shape, the virtual point may be located atthe center of the shape. In another embodiment, a plurality of receiversforming non-equilateral configurations may be used to calculate avirtual point, but the resulting virtual point location may need to beadjusted to the resulting effective center, such by computing the centerof gravity for the shape.

In one embodiment, traces from disparate velocity models may be used,but the resulting location of the virtual point may need to be adjustedto compensate for the variances in the velocity model. Also, variancesin the velocity model may cause adjustment to the amplitude andfrequency of the real traces prior to their use in the method.

In another embodiment, the methodology described may be nested. That is,several virtual points (e.g., virtual points 135 and 145) may be treatedas real traces and combined into a single, super virtual point using themethods described herein. Similarly, overlapping pluralities of realtraces may be used, so that a single real trace may participate in thecomputation of more than one virtual trace.

The methods described herein may be used in a system that operates inreal time or near real time in order to provide timely information topersonnel at the site of a formation. This information may then be usedin order to influence interventions or to provide additional safetymeasures, as previously described.

Each seismic receiver 101-108 may include supporting equipment, such asa memory system suitable to recording data from events detected by thesensor over a relatively long period of time, a clock suitable fornoting the time at which data is received from a receiver, amicroprocessor suitable to basic pre-processing or processing of datafrom the receiver or the memory, as well as other such equipment.

Any memory devices or systems provided may be one of several types.Conventional or hardened hard drives may be used, depending upon theenvironment where the receiver is to be placed. Random access memory(RAM), including SRAM or DRAM, may be used in order to provide a morecompact or more robust package. Read only memories may also be used,such as EPROMs or the like. Further, optical storage may be utilized.

In one embodiment, the methods described herein are embodied in a systemincluding a dense field of receivers, so that several virtual points maybe compared to detect variances. Providing a large number of virtualpoints allows for the provision of a reliable baseline of informationfrom which to determine potential seismic events.

In support of the teachings herein, various analysis components may beused, including digital and/or analog systems. The system may beimplemented in software, firmware, hardware or some combination thereof.The system may have components such as a processor, storage media,memory, input, output, communications link (wired, wireless, pulsed mud,optical or other), user interfaces, software programs, signal processors(digital or analog) and other such components (such as resistors,capacitors, inductors and others) to provide for operation and analysesof the system and methods disclosed herein in any of several manners. Itis considered that these teachings may be, but need not be, implementedin conjunction with a set of computer executable instructions stored ona computer readable medium, including memory (ROMs, RAMs), optical(CD-ROMs), or magnetic (disks, hard drives), or any other type that whenexecuted causes a computer or processor to implement the method of thepresent invention. These instructions may provide for equipmentoperation, control, data collection and analysis and other functionsdeemed relevant by a system designer, owner, user or other suchpersonnel, in addition to the functions described in this disclosure.

Further, various other components may be included and called upon forproviding for aspects of the teachings herein. For example, a powersupply (e.g., at least one of a generator, a remote supply and abattery), motive force (such as a translational force, propulsionalforce or a rotational force), magnet, electromagnet, sensor, electrode,transmitter, receiver, transceiver, antenna, controller, optical unit,electrical unit or electromechanical unit may be included in support ofthe various aspects discussed herein or in support of other functionsbeyond this disclosure.

Various components or technologies may provide certain necessary orbeneficial functionality or features. Accordingly, these functions andfeatures as may be needed in support of the appended claims andvariations thereof, are recognized as being inherently included as apart of the teachings herein and a part of the invention disclosed.

While the invention has been described with reference to exemplaryembodiments, it will be understood that various changes may be made andequivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departingfrom the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications will beappreciated by those skilled in the art to adapt a particularinstrument, situation or material to the teachings of the inventionwithout departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it isintended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodimentdisclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention,but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for estimating a seismic event fromseismic noise, the method comprising: receiving seismic trace data atsensors at a plurality of locations responsive to the seismic noisegenerated within a formation; and using a processor to: calculate avirtual trace from the seismic trace data for a virtual trace locationrelated to the plurality of locations, and calculate a virtual tracevalue (E_(Rvirtual)) for the virtual trace from normalized values of theseismic trace data and a normalized value of the virtual trace, whereinthe virtual trace value indicates a presence of the seismic event. 2.The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the virtual tracelocation by calculating at least one of a geometric center and a centerof gravity of a shape formed by the plurality of locations.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising using the processor to normalizethe seismic trace data.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:receiving at least one trace (trace_(m)(t)) from each of the pluralityof locations; and calculating a sum of the at least one trace(trace_(m)(t)) for each of the plurality of locations.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: receiving at least one trace (trace_(m)(t))from the sensors at each of the plurality of locations within a timewindow; and calculating a resultant trace (E_(Rn)(t)) using theequation:E _(Rn)(t)=sqrt[trace₁(t)²+ . . . trace_(m)(t)²], wherein “trace_(m)(t)”represents one or more traces received from each of the plurality oflocations within the time window.
 6. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: receiving other seismic trace data from sensors at anotherplurality of locations; calculating another virtual trace value from theother seismic event data for another virtual trace location; andcomparing the virtual trace value (E_(Rvirtual)) and the another virtualtrace value to a threshold value to determine a location of the seismicevent.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: calculating thevirtual trace value (E_(Rvirtual)) using the equation:E _(Rvirtual)(t)=[E _(R1)(t)+ . . . E _(Rn)(t)] wherein “E_(R1)(t) . . .E_(Rn)(t)” represents the seismic trace data for each of the pluralityof locations.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: calculatingthe virtual trace value (E_(Rvirtual)) using the equation:E _(Rvirtual)=(1/N)*∫E _(Rvirtual)(t)dt/[∫E _(R1)(t)dt+ . . . ∫E_(Rn)(t)dt], wherein “N” represents a number of locations in theplurality of locations.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprisingdetermining the threshold value indicative of a seismic event.
 10. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising using the processor to: compare athreshold value to the virtual trace value (E_(Rvirtual)) to determinewhether the seismic event has occurred.
 11. A system for estimating aseismic event from seismic noise, the system comprising: a plurality ofseismic receivers at a plurality of locations for receiving seismictrace data responsive to seismic noise generated within the formation;and a processor configured to: calculate a virtual trace from theseismic trace data for a virtual trace location related to the pluralityof locations, and calculate a virtual trace value (E_(Rvirtual)) for thevirtual trace from normalized values of the seismic trace data and anormalized value of the virtual trace, wherein the virtual trace valueindicates a presence of the seismic event.
 12. The system of claim 11,wherein each of the plurality of seismic receivers is selected from atleast one of a geophone and a hydrophone.
 13. The system of claim 11,wherein each of the plurality of seismic receivers is disposed in alocation selected from at least one of a surface location, and alocation within a wellbore.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein thevirtual trace location is determined from at least one of a geometriccenter and a center of gravity of a shape formed by the plurality oflocations.
 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to compare a threshold value to the virtual trace value(E_(Rvirtual)) to determine whether the seismic event has occurred. 16.The system of claim 11, further comprising another plurality of seismicreceives at another plurality of locations configured to receive otherseismic trace data, wherein the processor is further configured to:calculate another virtual trace value from the other seismic event datafor another virtual trace location, and compare the virtual trace value(E_(Rvirtual)) and the another virtual trace value to a threshold valueto determine a location of the seismic event.
 17. The system of claim11, further comprising a processing unit that includes the processor,the processing unit being in communication with the plurality of seismicreceivers by a connection selected from at least one of a directconnection and a wireless connection.
 18. The system of claim 17,wherein the processing unit further includes a power supply, aninput/output device, a memory device, and a time measurement device. 19.A computer program product comprising machine readable instructionsstored on machine readable media, the instructions for determiningseismic event data by implementing a method comprising: receivingseismic trace data from sensors at a plurality of locations responsiveto the seismic noise generated within a formation, calculating a virtualtrace from the seismic trace data for a virtual trace location relatedto the plurality of locations, and calculating a virtual trace value(E_(Rvirtual)) for the virtual trace from normalized values of theseismic trace data and a normalized value of the virtual trace, whereinthe virtual trace value indicates a presence of the seismic event. 20.The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the method furthercomprises: calculating the virtual trace value (E_(Rvirtual)) using theequation:E _(Rvirtual)(t)=[E _(R1)(t)+ . . . E _(Rn)(t)] wherein “E_(R1)(t) . . .E_(Rn)(t)” represents the seismic trace data for each of the pluralityof locations, and calculating the virtual trace value (E_(Rvirtual))using the equation:E _(Rvirtual)=(1/N)*∫E _(Rvirtual)(t)dt/[∫E _(R1)(t)dt+ . . . ∫E_(Rn)(t)dt], wherein “N” represents a number of locations in theplurality of locations.